A new Surrey Police base is set to be created following the successful purchase of a site in the Redhill area, the Police and Crime Commissioner has announced today.
The building at Perrywood Business Park on Honeycrock Lane in Salfords has been bought with a view to providing a permanent police station and front counter for the public.
Commissioner Lisa Townsend hailed the purchase, which was finalised this week, as great news for the Force’s policing presence in East Surrey.
It follows an extensive search for a potential site in the Reigate and Banstead area.
New base
In 2023, police teams were forced to move out of the old Reigate Police Station following the discovery of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC).
Many have been operating out of a temporary location at nearby Wray Park in the meantime.
Last year Surrey Police announced plans to build a brand new Eastern Divisional HQ at a site in Leatherhead already owned by the Force and recently received resolution to grant planning permission,
But the Police and Crime Commissioner and senior Force leaders also wanted to find a secondary site in the Reigate and Banstead area for a police station and front counter service for residents.
The building at Perrywood Business Park was the only site in the area that met the requirements and will be funded by the sale of the previous Reigate Police Station.
The Commissioner believes the new building will be fit for purpose offering sufficient space and facilities for policing teams with ample parking and good local transport links which will help Surrey Police to continue delivering the high levels of service residents expect.
“Bright future”
Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “I know how much residents value their local policing presence so this is really fantastic news for our communities in the area.
“The discovery of RAAC and subsequent closure of Reigate Police Station has meant it has been a disruptive time for our hard-working teams in East Surrey.
“I want to pay tribute to their continued patience, professionalism and resilience in challenging circumstances.
“The search for a site in the Reigate and Banstead area has been extensive and Perrywood was the only building which met our needs so I am delighted that we have been able to secure the purchase.
“I believe that together with the progress being made on our new Eastern Division HQ in Leatherhead, this heralds a bright future for policing in East Surrey.”
Deputy Chief Constable of Surrey Police Mark McEwan said: “We believe this new building will provide sufficient space and facilities for our teams, be fit for purpose and enable us to continue delivering the high levels of service our residents expect.
“Whilst we are still at the very early stages, considerations continue into where individual teams across the Eastern division will be based in the future and we will provide updates as and when we have them.
“The safety of our communities remains our priority and there will be no change to officers continuing to patrol across the towns and villages of the local area as they already do. ”